Wealthy residents of East Coast hamlet hold panicked meeting to keep their nannies and gardeners from being deported as AG Pam Bondi threatens sanctuary towns: ‘You’re going to be next’
The wealthy residents of East Hampton went into panic mode over the possibility their hired help could face expulsion from the US as part of Donald Trump‘s mass deportation program.
The exclusive Long Island village – with an average home value of $2 million and residents that include Sylvester Stallone’s daughters – held an emergency meeting amid fears that ICE would round up the employees of locals.
East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo tried to quell their fears by insisting that local cops were not required to assist ICE.
‘The only way any of my officers could ever enforce federal immigration law is if they were deputized,’ he said. ‘The town board would not allow any of our officers to be deputized.’
One migrant resident who spoke at the board meeting was overcome with emotion.
‘It’s really hard for me when my 10-year-old daughter asked me, “Mom, are you legal?,”‘ Daniela Rivas said, while adding that others were too ‘scared’ to attend the event.
‘The most important thing we need to focus on right now is our kids. While they’re at school, they’re scared that when they go back home their parents won’t be there.’
East Hampton Village Police Chief Jeffrey Erickson reiterated that local police would not assist federal actions: ‘If it is an ICE detainer or an administrative warrant, we do not have the authority, we will not hold them.’
The development came as Attorney General Pam Bondi warned sanctuary cities they ‘are going to be next’ if local officials continue to harbor and protect illegal aliens over the safety of citizens.
Chief Sarlo told the East Hampton Star: ‘I haven’t seen an ICE agent in this town in I can’t tell you how long.’
Erickson wants the undocumented migrants in the Suffolk County village to feel comfortable speaking to police if they themselves are in trouble.
‘If they’re a victim of a crime, we don’t want them to fear the police, we want them to call us so we can protect them,’ he said.
‘It’s clear to me that everybody thinks that ICE is just going to come and take anybody that is here…that is not what’s happening,’ added Mayor Jerry Larsen.
Alex Lovett, a resident of East Hampton, expressed gratitude that the town held the meeting and that undocumented migrants were a huge part in what keeps the hamlet running.
‘I think it’s a very good idea and very helpful considering we have a very large community here, and people rely on them. They’ve been a vital part of the community for a very long time,’ she told News 12.
Councilwoman Cate Rogers and Adam Fine, the East Hampton School District superintendent, said that residents have to remain on watch to help their neighbors and employees.
‘The rules are being rewritten by the second,’ Rogers said. ‘I want to assure everyone that this is the beginning of a conversation. It’s not a one-and-done statement, ‘Okay we did our job let’s move on.’ We’re invested. We’re your neighbors, and we’re with you.’
Bondi spoke with Fox News‘ Sean Hannity on Thursday to share how the Justice Department sued the city of Chicago and its mayor Brandon Johnson earlier in the day over its progressive sanctuary policies.
‘Not only did we sue today the city of Chicago, we sued the state of Illinois, we sued the mayor, we sued the governor, and we sued others,’ she said.
The Department of Justice also put a pause on all federal funding to sanctuary states and cities and nonprofits, according to a memo Bondi sent out Thursday.
When asked by Hannity about whether the sanctuary city and states were aiding and abetting the illegal migrants, the AG didn’t pass up a moment to make the new Trump directives crystal clear.
‘What they’re doing is they are choosing illegal aliens over the safety and security of their own citizens and the men and women of law enforcement who are out there trying to protect their citizens,’ Bondi responded.
‘And let me be very clear, if you don’t comply with federal law, you’re going to be next,’ Bondi proclaimed, putting those who harbor the migrants on notice.
